3/13/2013

Events in Israel and around the Jewish world remain as
interesting as ever, and I've tried to contribute a bit by writing when I
have the opportunity (i.e., when I'm paid to write; can't afford the lucrative work-for-free opportunities).

Yesterday's events at the Kotel have drawn, as usual,
a global audience, but as many of you know I have long advocated
viewing the struggle for women at the Kotel and for Jews on the Temple
Mount as fundamentally linked. So in addition to the standard articles,
we have this
from Matti Friedman, exploring the increasing relevance of Har Habayit.
He quotes me at the end of the article and links back to a blog post I wrote on the subject last year. Here's hoping that attitudes continue to deepen, soften, and converge.

Elsewhere on the Israeli scene, I analyzed Yair Lapid's
well-known Ono College speech from over a year ago, in which he
"conceded defeat" to the Haredim. It was a remarkable speech, which
articulated a vision for a new type of Israeli secularism. In his tone,
Lapid has certainly distanced himself from his father. But is that
change merely tactical? Check it out:http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/5979/features/yair-lapids-religion/

Finally,
on a different note, I explore, in the New York Jewish Week, the
ancient Jewish ban on tattoos. There is a talmudic argument about
whether the ban is due to the perception of tattoos as a pagan practice
or is simply not rational - whether as a taboo or divine fiat. I contend
that this ancient argument continued through the medieval debate and
continues to frame the contemporary debate as well. This was a fun
article - it combines quotes from the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, and
Maimonides with references to Lenny Bruce, Amy Winehouse, Drew
Barrymore, The Nanny, and Curb your Enthusiasm. I hope you enjoy reading
it as much as I enjoyed writing it!http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/short-takes/tattoo-stil-taboo